Indoor unit of air conditioner

ABSTRACT

An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes an air conditioning unit for conditioning air and a conduit mounting portion. The conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with a component on a periphery of the air conditioning unit. The conduit mounting portion has a mounting hole formed therein for mounting the conduit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-203382 filed on Jul. 26, 2006. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-203382 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner. More specifically, the present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner to which a conduit is connected.

2. Background Information

Conventionally, in some countries and areas, it is required that electric wires be covered by a conduit. For example, a highly insulating electric wire pipe must be used when electric wires such as a signal cord or the like are connected to an indoor unit of an air conditioner. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-74904 describes an indoor unit of an air conditioner to which is connected a conduit to be used in such countries and areas.

With this type of indoor unit, a conduit is connected to a separate conduit mounting plate attached to a frame of the indoor unit of the air conditioner. An electric wire inside the conduit extends out from an end of the conduit mounted to the conduit mounting plate and is connected to a terminal block or the like.

However, with the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-74904, a separate conduit mounting plate for mounting a conduit is necessary, thereby causing a problem that the number of components and manufacturing cost increase.

In addition, space for housing the conduit mounting plate in the casing of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is necessary, thereby making it difficult to reduce the size of the indoor unit.

In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved indoor unit of an air conditioner in which a separate conduit mounting plate is unnecessary. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which a separate conduit mounting plate is unnecessary.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present invention is an indoor unit of an air conditioner to which a conduit is connected. The indoor unit comprises an air conditioning unit and a conduit mounting portion. The air conditioning unit has a function of conditioning air. The conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with a component disposed on a periphery of the air conditioning unit. The conduit mounting portion has a mounting hole formed therein for mounting the conduit.

Here, the conduit mounting portion with the mounting hole formed therein for mounting the conduit is integrally formed with the component on the periphery of the air conditioning unit. Thus, a component for mounting the conduit, which is conventionally provided as a separate component, is unnecessary.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second aspect of the present invention is the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the component includes a frame for supporting the air conditioning unit. The conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the frame.

Here, since the conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the frame, a component for mounting the conduit, which is conventionally provided as a separate component, is unnecessary. In addition, since the conduit is directly attached to the frame, it is possible to prevent the conduit from becoming unstable.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a third aspect of the present invention is the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the component includes an electric component box. The electric component box houses an electrical component electrically connected to the air conditioning unit. The conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the electric component box.

Here, since the conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the electric component box, a component for mounting the conduit, which is conventionally provided as a separate component, is unnecessary. In addition, an electric wire extending out from the conduit mounting portion is connectable to a terminal within a short distance.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the component includes a mounting plate. The mounting plate connects between a case for housing the air conditioning unit and a wall. The conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the mounting plate.

Here, since the conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the mounting plate, a component for mounting the conduit, which is conventionally provided as a separate component, is unnecessary. In addition, since the conduit is directly attached to the mounting plate, it is possible to prevent the conduit from becoming unstable.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the component includes a case for housing the air conditioning unit. The conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the case.

Here, since the conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the case, a component for mounting the conduit, which is conventionally provided as a separate component, is unnecessary. In addition, the conduit mounting portion can be disposed at any position on the surface of the case.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses selected embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the parts inside a casing of the indoor unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of a vicinity of a conduit mounting portion provided to a lateral side of an electric component box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section view of the conduit mounting portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an expanded view of a vicinity of a conduit mounting portion provided to a lower side of a bottom frame of an indoor unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross section view of a vicinity of a conduit mounting portion provided to a mounting plate of an indoor unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the mounting plate of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a partial cross section view of the vicinity of a conduit mounting portion provided to a casing of an indoor unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a refrigerant pipe R and a conduit C are connected between an indoor unit 1 and an outdoor unit 21 of an air conditioner in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. A signal wire EL extends through the conduit C (see FIG. 4).

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the indoor unit 1 includes an air conditioning unit 2, a bottom frame 3, an electric component box 4, a conduit mounting portion 5, and a casing 7.

The air conditioning unit 2 has one or more air conditioning functions (heating, cooling, humidification, air cleaning, etc.). The air conditioning unit 2 has a room air heat exchanger, a cross flow fan, and the like.

The bottom frame 3 supports the air conditioning unit 2, the electric component box 4, and the like.

The electric component box 4 houses an electrical component electrically connected to the air conditioning unit 2.

The casing 7 houses the air conditioning unit 2, the bottom frame 3, and the electric component box 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the casing 7 has an upper casing 7 a and a lower casing 7 b. The lower casing 7 b includes an air outlet 22 and a flap 23.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the conduit mounting portion 5 is integrally formed with a lateral side 4 a of the electric component box 4. Thus, the lateral side 4 a and the conduit mounting portion 5 constitute a unitary one-piece member. The conduit mounting portion 5 has a conduit mounting hole 6 formed therein for mounting the conduit C.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conduit C covers the signal wire EL, which connects between the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 21. The conduit C is characteristically difficult to bend because it has a higher stiffness compared with that of the signal wire EL. Therefore, in a state in which the conduit C is fixed to the conduit mounting portion 5, only the signal wire EL inside the conduit C is extended to connect to a terminal inside the electric component box 4.

In order to fix the conduit C to the conduit mounting portion 5, as shown in FIG. 4, a hollow external thread portion 5 of the conduit C is inserted into the conduit mounting hole 6 of the conduit mounting portion 5 and then, a nut N is tightened to the hollow external thread portion S such that a flange T circumferentially projecting from the root of the hollow external thread portion S and the nut N sandwich the conduit mounting portion 5.

With the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner in the first embodiment, the conduit mounting portion 5 is integrally formed with the electric component box 4, which is a component on a periphery of the air conditioning unit 2. The conduit mounting portion 5 has the mounting hole 6 formed therein for mounting the conduit. Thus, a separate component for mounting the conduit C is unnecessary. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of components and manufacturing cost of the indoor unit 1. In addition, the size of the indoor unit 1 can be easily reduced.

In addition, because the conduit mounting portion 5 is integrally formed with the electric component box 4, the signal wire EL extending out from the conduit mounting portion 5 is connected to the terminal in the electric component box 4 within a short distance.

With the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner in the first embodiment, the conduit mounting portion 5 is integrally formed with the lateral side 4 a of the electric component box 4. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure that the conduit mounting portion 5 can be provided to an upper side 4 b or a lower side 4 c of the electric component box 4.

Second Embodiment

Referring now to FIG. 5, an indoor unit in accordance with a second embodiment will now be explained. In view of the similarity between the first and second embodiments, the parts of the second embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the second embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity.

In the second embodiment, the indoor unit 1 is essentially the same as the first embodiment except that a conduit mounting portion 15 is integrally formed with a lower side 3 a of the bottom frame 3 of the indoor unit 1. Thus, the lower side 3 a and the conduit mounting portion 15 constitute a unitary one-piece member. The conduit mounting portion 15 has a conduit mounting hole 16 formed therein for mounting the conduit C. The structures of other portions in the indoor unit 1 of the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

With the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner in the second embodiment, a separate component for mounting the conduit is unnecessary. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of components and manufacturing cost of the indoor unit 1. In addition, the size of the indoor unit 1 can be easily reduced.

In addition, in the second embodiment, because the conduit mounting portion 15 is integrally formed with the bottom frame 3 so that the conduit C is directly attached to the bottom frame 3, the conduit C is prevented from becoming unstable.

With the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner in the second embodiment, the conduit mounting portion 15 is integrally formed with the lower side 3 a of the bottom frame 3. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure that the conduit mounting portion 15 can be provided to another side (upper side, lateral side, etc.) of the bottom frame 3, or to a frame other than the bottom frame 3.

Third Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, an indoor unit in accordance with a third embodiment will now be explained. In view of the similarity between the first and third embodiments, the parts of the third embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the third embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity.

In the third embodiment, the indoor unit 1 is essentially the same as the first embodiment except that the indoor unit 1 further includes an indoor unit mounting plate 8 for connecting the casing 7 to a wall W. A conduit mounting portion 25 is integrally formed with the mounting plate 8. Thus, the indoor unit mounting plate 8 and the conduit mounting portion 25 constitute a unitary one-piece member. The conduit mounting portion 25 has a conduit mounting hole 26 formed therein for mounting the conduit C. The structures of other portions in the indoor unit 1 of the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The indoor unit mounting plate 8 is manufactured, for example, by press forming a metal plate. The indoor unit mounting plate 8 has a pipe insertion hole 8 a, a rib portion 8 b and a plurality of holes 8 c. A refrigerant pipe R passes through the pipe insertion hole 8 a. The conduit mounting portion 25 is integrally formed with the rib portion 8 b, which partially protrudes from a surface of the indoor unit mounting plate 8 and has a relatively high stiffness.

With the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner in the third embodiment, a separate component for mounting the conduit is unnecessary. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of components and manufacturing cost of the indoor unit 1. In addition, the size of the indoor unit 1 can be easily reduced.

In addition, in the third embodiment, because the conduit mounting portion 25 is integrally provided to the indoor unit mounting plate 8 so that the conduit C is directly attached to the indoor unit mounting plate 8, the conduit C is prevented from becoming unstable.

With the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner in the third embodiment, the conduit mounting hole 26 is located above the pipe insertion hole 8 a. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure that the conduit mounting hole 26 can be provided at a different portion of the indoor unit mounting plate 8 (for example, at a position of the holes 8 c).

Fourth Embodiment

Referring now to FIG. 8, an indoor unit in accordance with a fourth embodiment will now be explained. In view of the similarity between the first and fourth embodiments, the parts of the fourth embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the fourth embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity.

In the fourth embodiment, the indoor unit 1 is essentially the same as the first embodiment except that a conduit mounting portion 35 is integrally formed with the casing 7. Thus, the casing 7 and the conduit mounting portion 35 constitute a unitary one-piece member. An indoor unit mounting plate 38 connects the casing 7 to a wall W. A refrigerant pipe R passes through the wall W and the indoor unit mounting plate 38. The conduit mounting portion 35 has a conduit mounting hole 36 formed therein for mounting the conduit C. The conduit mounting portion 35 is integrally formed with a lateral side or a lower side of the casing 7. The structures of other portions in the indoor unit 1 of the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

With the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner in the fourth embodiment, a separate component for mounting the conduit is unnecessary. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of components and manufacturing cost of the indoor unit 1. In addition, the size of the indoor unit 1 can be easily reduced.

In addition, in the fourth embodiment, because the conduit mounting portion 35 is integrally formed with the casing 7, the conduit mounting portion 35 can be disposed at any position on the surface of the casing 7.

General Interpretation of Terms

In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, or groups, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, or groups. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiments, the following directional terms “forward, rearward, above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of an indoor unit of an air conditioner equipped with the present invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to an indoor unit of an air conditioner equipped with the present invention.

While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. An indoor unit of an air conditioner, the indoor unit comprising: an air conditioning unit for conditioning air; and a conduit mounting portion integrally formed with a component disposed on a periphery of the air conditioning unit and having a mounting hole configured to mount a conduit.
 2. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the component includes a frame for supporting the air conditioning unit, and the conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the frame.
 3. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the component includes an electric component box for housing an electrical component electrically connected to the air conditioning unit, and the conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the electric component box.
 4. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the component includes an indoor unit mounting plate configured to connect a case that houses the air conditioning unit to a wall, and the conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the indoor unit mounting plate.
 5. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the component includes a case for housing the air conditioning unit, and the conduit mounting portion is integrally formed with the case. 